The UN Security Council on Friday rejected a last-minute effort backed by Russia and China to delay for six months the reimposition of sanctions on Iran.
The vote on a draft resolution failed to secure the minimum nine votes needed in the 15-member Security Council.
As a result, all UN sanctions on Iran suspended under a 2015 nuclear agreement will automatically “snap back” into effect on Sunday.
Nine members voted against, four in favour, and two abstained from voting.
The measures will freeze Iranian assets abroad, ban arms sales to Tehran and curb development of its ballistic missile programme, further straining an economy already weakened by years of restrictions.
Britain, France and Germany triggered the 30-day mechanism last month, accusing Tehran of breaching the 2015 nuclear deal aimed at curbing its atomic programme.
The European powers argue Iran has advanced uranium enrichment activities well beyond levels necessary for civilian use, eroding the milestone agreement.
The Russian and Chinese-sponsored draft would have delayed the sanctions and urged all parties to “immediately resume negotiations” to return to the table.
“Iran undertook all possible measures to accommodate the E3 [UK, France and Germany] and the US. Did Washington, London, Paris, Berlin, make new compromises? No, they did not,” Russian deputy ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy told Council members.
European nations have said they would be willing to extend the deadline if Iran complies with a series of conditions.
These include resumption of direct negotiations with the US over Tehran's nuclear programme, allowing UN nuclear inspectors access to its nuclear sites, and accounts for the more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium the UN watchdog says it has.
France disagreed with Russia and described efforts it made throughout this week's General Assembly to reach an agreement with Iran on a proposal of extension.
“We sought an immediate agreement, yet Iran preferred to postpone everything,” said Jerome Bonnafont, France’s UN envoy.
Deputy US envoy Dorothy Shea said Washington was “pleased” that China's and Russia's “last-ditch effort” had failed.
“The snapback of these measures does not preclude removal through diplomacy, but at this stage there is no basis for changing course,” she added.
Britain, France and Germany say Iran has flouted restrictions that would ensure it never develops an atom bomb – such as limits on its uranium stockpile.
Iran – which insists its intentions are peaceful – agreed to those terms in 2015 in exchange for many sanctions being lifted, notably on its oil and banking sectors.
“The failure of high-level engagement between senior Iranian and European diplomats … underscores the difficulty in getting Tehran and Washington back to negotiations after the June war,” said the International Crisis Group’s Iran project director Ali Vaez on Friday.
He added that while western diplomats expect difficulties in implementation, the revived measures “will add a multilateral layer to the unilateral US ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against the Islamic Republic.”
Conflict over Iran's nuclear activities led to a 12-day air war with Israel in June, which culminated in a US bombing of Iran and an Iranian strike against an airbase in Qatar used by American forces.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the Security Council that the US and its European allies bore full responsibility for the fallout from their decision to restore sanctions.
"The developments we have witnessed set a dangerous precedent," he said. "If agreements can be broken at will, no nation can trust international commitments. If unlawful measures are enforced by power instead of law, the Secretary Council risks losing credibility and authority. Such a situation would harm not only Iran, but the entire system of international law and collective security."
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Strait of Hormuz
Fujairah is a crucial hub for fuel storage and is just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route linking Middle East oil producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond.
The strait is 33 km wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just three km wide in either direction. Almost a fifth of oil consumed across the world passes through the strait.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait, a move that would risk inviting geopolitical and economic turmoil.
Last month, Iran issued a new warning that it would block the strait, if it was prevented from using the waterway following a US decision to end exemptions from sanctions for major Iranian oil importers.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
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Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
